Is the digital learning revolution a waste of money?

Is the pen mightier than the keyboard? (Image: fotostorm/Getty) Where there are effects, there are often side effects – and not just in medicine. The car was a boon to mobility, but can lead to obesity, injuries, deaths and pollution. Burning fossil fuels may keep economies going, but wrecks the climate in the long run. In a similar way, there are side effects to information technology in education settings – from childcare to the classroom to the lecture hall and beyond. The IT industry and educational policy-makers repeatedly state that computers are good for learning, and therefore worthy of public investment. But numerous studies have showed no positive impact, or even negative effects. The latest is a report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. It highlights that education…